The ancestors of the bearers of the Holsay family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-SaxonEngland. They were first found in the county of Devon in an area that was near the hazel-trees. Holsay is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree.

Early Origins of the Holsay family

The surname Holsay was first found in Surrey where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Holsay family

Early History of the Holsay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Holsay research.Another 163 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1920, 1839, 1927 and 1708 are included under the topic Early Holsay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Holsay Spelling Variations

Holsay Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Holsay include Halsey, Hallsey and others.

Early Notables of the Holsay family (pre 1700)

Early Notables of the Holsay family (pre 1700)

Notables of the family at this time include Sir Thomas Frederick Halsey, 1st Baronet PC (1839-1927), an English politician; and John Halsey (died 1708) was a colonial American privateer and a later pirate who was active in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans during the early 18th century. According to Forbes, he... Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Holsay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Holsay family to the New World and Oceana

Migration of the Holsay family to the New World and Oceana

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Holsay or a variant listed above: Thomas Halsey of Geddesden Park settled in Long Island in 1640; John Halsey settled in Boston Mass in 1635 with his brother Richard; George Halsey settled in New England in 1630.

The Holsay Motto

The Holsay Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nescit vox missa revertiMotto Translation: When a word is once spoken it cannot be recalled.